No. 3 | Winter 2018

CONFLICT UPDATERE BROUGHT TOCAP YOU BY THE KACHIN ALLIANCE Conflict Updates • There was at least one battle/ armed clash between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Tatmadaw forces in 7 out of 31 days in October, 18 out of 30 days in November, and 26 out of 31 days in December.

• During these three months, armed clashes between the KIA and Tatmadaw most frequently occurred inside and near Mansi Township in the southern region of Kachin State. The area of Danai Township experienced the second highest frequency of armed clashes.

• Several provocations from the Tatmadaw consisted of fighter jets An IDP family braving the brutal winter of the Kachin region. Hkun Li Photo dropping bombs on KIA positions and sometimes, in the vicinity of IDP camps. HUMANITARIAN CRISIS & • On the Christmas Day alone, there were 2 armed clashes and 4 HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS incidents of provocation. October 2017

* Clashes Provocations • On October 3, when civilians with provisions attempted October 9 14 to cross into the Danai area, Tatmadaw soldiers stationed at Tawang Hka bridge turned them away and threw the provisions into the river. November 26 32 • On October 16 and 17, after getting ambushed by KIA December 56 92 troops, Tatmadaw soldiers randomly fired at by-passers, injuring a civilian in his leg.

* Any incident of gun firing, bombing or ambush that did not escalate to a battle is considered to be a provocation. Accordingly, any provocation that escalated to a battle is counted as a clash and excluded from the provocation tally. These figures indicate the number of provocations initiated by either Tatmadaw or the KIA troops on one another. Page 1 of 3 No. 3 | Winter 2018

[Humanitarian Crisis & Human Rights Violations continue] November 2017 OTHER UPDATES

• On November 11, Npawp Lu Ing, a mother of two • According to classified information who was eight months pregnant, was reported to have The Irrawaddy received, the previous been fatally struck by a vehicle driven by a Tatmadaw government issued ownership brigadier general in Hpakant. documents of 170,000 acres of land vacated by the IDPs to companies • On November 23, three civilians, Mr. Aung Soe, Mr. and individuals between 2013 and Win Naing, and Mr. Min Aye, stepped on a landmine 2014 in Waingmaw Township alone. and were injured near Tawng Ya mine in the Indawgyi Similarly, in Mansi Township, there area of Kachin State. are some 20,000 acres that • On November 24, Nampaka-based Tatmadaw companies and individuals are troops have reportedly fired artillery rounds on Maiyu trying to obtain licenses to use. The Lay IDP camp, which hosts 138 households and 700 Irrawaddy reporter noted, “IDPs are IDPs; 5 temporary houses inside the camp was unaware of the fate of their land… damaged in this incident. and hope to return at some stage.” December 2017 • In October, when inquired about Nlam Bawk Nan, who was taken by • The Irrawaddy reported in early December that the Tatmadaw troops on June 20, locals in Danai Township were running out of fuel and the Tatmadaw claimed that although experiencing rice shortage because the Tatmadaw has he was in their custody, they do not restricted the transportation of basic commodities in know his whereabouts, because he the township. had run away.

• On December 4, Mr. Paw Se Hawng, 63, of Man • On October 27, the Lashio District Mau village stepped on a landmine while cleaning his Court convicted Dumdaw Nawng Lat, yard and was injured. 67, an ethnic Kachin religious leader, • On December 7, after getting ambushed by KIA of criminal defamation for an troops at Nawng Hkam Bum, Tatmadaw soldiers interview he gave to Voice of randomly fired and injured a Kachin civilian in his left America in December 2016 in which shoulder. he alleged that Tatmadaw had attacked civilians during conflict with • On December 7, Mr. Aik Aung of Ginsi village ethnic armed groups. According to stepped on a landmine while fishing in U Ru and U Ra Fortify Rights, “Under international river junction and was injured. The next day, Mr. Ba law, criminal penalties, and Aung and wife, Mrs. Tangbau Lu Yan, also stepped on particularly imprisonment, are a landmine while on their way to go fishing; they lost considered disproportionate forms of their lives. punishment for defamation.” • On December 11 around 5pm, Tatmadaw troops stationed between Maw Swi and Dingga villages took • On December 12, the government into their custody Mr. Lama Seng Gawng, Mr. Mahka police force raided the office Yau Htung and Mr. Hkapawng Naw Mai, IDPs who compound of the Kachin were taking shelter at Man Maw Cultural Compound, Independence Organization’s because they were reportedly suspicious of the three Technical Advisory Team in Myitkyina IDPs. and conducted a search without a warrant. • On December 14, Tatmadaw forces dropped bombs in several areas of southern Kachin State. A civilian woman was injured by one of the dropped bombs.

Page 2 of 3 No. 3 | Winter 2018 • On December 14 around 2pm, Tatmadaw troops took into their custody a Jan Mai Kawng Ra villager, Mr. Maru Tang Ji and a Bang Gaw Htingnu villager, Mr. Nhkum Tu Awng. Then they burned down several [ Other Updates continue] houses in Jan Mai Kawng Ra village. • On December 20, the UN’s • On December 14 around 4 pm, the Tatmadaw OHCHR website reported, “the troops in Hpau Daw village took village elders of Nam Government of Myanmar has Gut village and Hpau Daw village to question them informed UN Special Rapporteur regarding fishing dynamite and gun-firings that went Yanghee Lee that all access to the off in their area. When the village elders answered country has been denied and that they did not know who were responsible for the cooperation withdrawn for the said incidents, they were tortured by the troops. The duration of her tenure.” village elder of Hpau Daw village sustained serious injuries. Regarding this decision, Lee remarked, “This declaration of • On December 19, a primary school student from non-cooperation with my mandate Mong Paw Township, Shan State was killed by a can only be viewed as a strong landmine blast. indication that there must be something terribly awful • On December 19 around 3pm, five students who happening in Rakhine, as well as in were returning to Hu Na village after school were the rest of the country.” struck by a bomb. Aung Lin, 12, lost his life while Hkaing Lin Htun, 10, Tang Mai, 13, Tsai Aik Ung, 10, • On December 21, the United and Aik Htun, 8, were injured. The injured students States “imposed sanctions on 13 were treated at Lashio Hospital. ‘serious human rights abusers and • On December 23, a man was injured by a landmine corrupt actors’ including Tatmadaw in Wara Zut village, Hpakant Township, Kachin State. general Maung Maung Soe, who oversaw this year’s brutal • On December 23, mortar shells fell on a house in crackdown against the Rohingya Maiyu village, Muse Township, northern Shan State. A Muslim minority.” 12-year-old died from injuries to his abdomen. Three others—two men and a 3-year-old boy who lost his right leg—were also injured. • On December 24, Tatmadaw troops fired a few shells near the Woi Chyai IDP camp in Laiza. The attack reportedly came around 9 pm and was thought to be timed intentionally for the Christmas Eve celebration. Lahpai Kai Nan, 29, a volunteer teacher in the IDP camp, was injured in the neck and had her jaw and teeth shattered from shelling by the Tatmadaw.

RECAP is a quarterly newsletter that aims to inform policymakers and relevant advocacy organizations of Kachins’ struggles and humanitarian crisis in the Kachin region. It is based on a wide-ranging news outlets and trustworthy local sources. It is in no way comprehensive. Kachin Alliance 1628 16th ST NW, Washington DC 20009 [email protected] (202) 299-9545 www.kachinalliance.org Page 3 of 3